SAHM wanting to supplement income with child care. i have some questions.

[meg-momto2]

i've asked these questions on the WAHM board but haven't gotten any responses. i was also directed here for info.

i'm a fairly new SAHM after being the bread winner for the last 8sih years. DH works full time outside of the home but we need to supplement our income. i would like to take in 1 or maybe 2(siblings preferably) during the week in my home. DS would be in school most of the day and DD would love to socialize with another child. i do have lots of babysitting and nanny experience but that was all for families i grew up with and we knew each other very well.

i've never sought out child care work and i'm not exactly sure where to start. i would like to advertise myself as AP/crunchy/naturally minded child care. i know that's what i would look for if i needed child care. does anyone have an advise or suggestions on what you would look for in a child car provider? how much do you pay for in home care with mostly organic and home made meals?

[luv-my-boys]

I think what you charge is largely dependent on your area. For instance in one state I lived in childcare ran about $30 a day but now in another state its about $10 and hr. I started a in home child care for largely the same reasons. I would suggest that you call around to local in home child care providers and get a feel of what they charge and what they offer. For instance I learned in our area it is VERY difficult to find anyone to take a infant under 3month....that proved to be a great niche for me. Unfortunately some moms have to get back to work. even if its only 2 weeks pp.

Craigslist proved to me a great cheap way to adverise as well as word of mouth. I had competive prices as opposed to those huge 50 kid centers so I was able to offer flexability, for instance if a mtg ran late and you wont pick up on time. Oh course I had added fees but I was available. I would market yourself as an alternative to a big daycare, more one on one time and flexability (if thats available to you)

In my area I found out that parents really wanted a provider available beyond m-f 8am -5pm, I mean some people work retail or work weekends especially with the holidays. Plus some people loved the idea of possibly using my occassionally as well for date nights and such. Plus working one on one with 1 provider (and not just an employee) you are able to tailor it more to the parents needs.

[justKate]

Do you have a local AP mamas forum or group? That might be a good place for info or to start.

Also if you are willing to be flexible on the time, MANY people need earlier or later hours, but not necessarily both.

[*MamaJen*]

I know the price for in-home childcare varies by region, but around here it's about $25 - 30 dollars per day. That also tends to be for more than 8 hours. If a person works 8 a.m. - 5 p.m., plus commute time, plus drop-off, it adds up.
Often it's quite easy to get registered with the state. You might look into what that entails in GA.
You might try posting on craiglist. When I was looking for in-home daycares, I looked for listings that talked about gentle discipline, lots of outdoor time or trips to the library, that sort of thing. If you're looking for crunchy mamas, you might say that you're into babywearing, okay with cloth diapers, breastmilk, organic, natural-minded, etc.
Also, proofread. I see a lot of listings with really really bad grammar, and I ignore those.
Also, I liked it when people posted pictures of their homes with nice spaces set up with baby or toddler stuff.

[blizzard_babe]

Like a PP stated, if you advertise that you're willing to do "flexible" hours (early mornings, into the evenings... not overnights, but maybe through 10pm-ish), you might find a very grateful, very willing-to-pay population. ESPECIALLY if you're offering AP-friendly care. I know that DH works evenings, and on the rare occasion that I have an evening obligation, we're scrambling around begging friends (well, not BEGGING... they love DS and say yes before we even get the question out, most of the time ).

[rcr]

I have a friend who watches DS, and we pay $33 a day, which is on the high end for our region (but she is worth every penny and even more). She is not a licensed child care center, and I don't pay taxes. If you can find somebody who wants that kind of situation, that sounds like perhaps a good fit (i.e. not having to get licensed, etc..) for only 1 or 2 kids. I would recommend just putting the word out that you are willing to take in a kid or two within your ciricle of friends, or a local AP group... and see if anybody is interested. For us, we were happy with a day care center, until my friend offered to watch DS, and then we switched immediately.

[lorijds]

15 years ago, I needed a very part time babysitter while I went back to school. I put up a flyer in the two local health food stores, asking for a part time day care provider. I stated up front that I couldn't pay much, but I was hoping for someone with a child close to my kid's age. I also stated up front that I was hoping for someone who was "crunchy" and AP, who was fine with extended breastfeeding and cloth diapers..

I only heard from one person, but her daughter (6 weeks younger than my own) and my daughter are best friends to this day, 15 years later. The mother and I continue to enjoy a close friendship as well. I initially paid $3/hr (15 yrs ago, broke students...). Eventually it evolved into a babysitting exchange, which was mutually beneficial.

I don't know how much to tell you to ask; but I think advertising with an AP group and at local, family friendly stores might get you one or two people who are interested.

[meg-momto2]

thank you everyone. i hadn't thought of extended hours. i can't do much before 8am but i could definitely go later in the evening. i'm still mulling over everything but i really appreciate the insight from you ladies.

[MacKinnon]

Are you planning on getting licensed? Or are you at least familiar with the licensing requirements in your area? In my state there is an agency that works with licensed providers to market and promote their centers, they could tell you what the niche market is that is needed where you live. Here, in the down economy there are a lot people picking up retail type jobs with night and weekend requirements. There is a demand for off hour, flexible care, and those that are offering it are having much better luck getting clients. Going rates around here for home day care are around $25 to $35 a day, or $125 to $150 a week. The better facilities are closer to $40 a day, or $200 a week.